SiliconArts: Real-time Ray Tracing GPU IP

GPU is a core semiconductor technology used for computer graphics and 3D applications. Modern computer 3D graphics technology uses rasterization hardware technology to enhance rendering performance. As computing performance increases dramatically due to the enhancement of computing architecture, several software rendering techniques are used to support realistic 3D graphics. Among these techniques, ray-tracing technology is widely used in creating movies, animations, and other special effects. Nonetheless, current ray-tracing technology consumes a considerable amount of time to perform the rendering process. Based in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, SiliconArts has a MIMD (Multiple Instruction Stream, Multiple Data Stream) GPU architectures that implement low-power and high-performance real-time processing of ray tracing which enables a graphic designer to generate photo-realistic high-quality 3D graphics with minimal efforts in comparison to rasterization hardware format. The computer graphic rendering technique of the existing GPU is a rasterization method that lacks natural lighting effects and therefore requires additional efforts of artifacts that has to make up for its photo-realistic effects using added programmable shader. On the other hand, ray tracing GPU simulates optics effect automatically, and a high degree of visual realism becomes a reality. Ray tracing on GPU technology is well-regarded as the most optimized, ultimate technology that will eventually replace rasterization of GPU technology. Through ray tracing on GPU technology, users can experience unprecedented interactive UI/UX in their smartphones and play immersive 3D games with home video game console.

SiliconArts’ RayCore is the world’s first real-time ray-tracing-enabled GPU IP. It is a semiconductor IP that can be used without the need for an existing GPU. RayCore is developed and marketed for semiconductor IP and FPGA solutions for ASIC development. RayCore Series 1000 is applicable to a variety of devices including smartphones, tablets, handheld gaming devices, and smart TVs. This state-of-the-art GPU IP provides cinema-quality 3D graphics in mobile devices by fully supporting a variety of ray tracing functions such as reflection, refraction, transmission, shadow, and global lighting. RayCore-Lite is the latest real-time path tracing GPU IP for high-performance, high-resolution mobile, and embedded devices and it can be integrated with existing GPU. It will be released as an FPGA solution in the second half of this year and will be easily used in conjunction with other software. This advanced GPU IP will provide more immersive realism to end-users and more suitable content development environment to content developers with various rendering softwares such as Embree, 3DS MAX. RayCore MC is a real-time full path tracing GPU that will be the only solution to enjoy movies of the same quality with low power. It will be available later this year as a semiconductor IP and FPGA solution type. RayCore is designed with patented MIMD architecture which enables more efficient execution of parallel tasks, making it possible to implement dynamic 3D user interface/user experience, interactive 3D games, augmented reality and other 3D applications which are hard to implement using rasterization of GPU. Forging ahead, SiliconArts’ RayTree is a dedicated KD-tree generation hardware IP which is used in ray tracing technology. In order to deliver high-quality dynamic 3D contents and guarantee interactivity, real-time KD-tree re-generation is a compulsory requirement for any application. Despite CPU overhead in today’s system, CPU has been responsible for KD-tree generation, and this causes process delays as well as high-level of power consumption. RayTree now can replace CPU’s role and further maximize KD-tree re-generation performance. RayTree re-generates KD-tree on a realtime basis, thereby realizing on-the-fly dynamic scene processing without any CPU utilization and saving power consumption. In recent years, Render farms and cloud service providers are utilizing high-performance FPGAs. SiliconArts will establish a method that provides the necessary functions to its customers with low power instead of using advanced graphics cards that require high power consumption. Since most of SiliconArts’ customers are based in the United States, the firm is looking forward to establishing itself in Silicon Valley this year. SiliconArts will initiate to conduct its sales, marketing, commercialization research, development, and technical support from US location.